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NATION MAY 31, 2024 | The Indian Eye 8

INDO-CANADIAN RELATIONS

Canada ups the ante as RCMP warns the son

of Air India bombing accused killed in 2022

CBC News report claims that RCMP investigators are exploring the possibility

of the Indian government’s involvement in Ripudaman Singh Malik’s assassination

OUR BUREAU
Ottawa/New Delhi
he Royal Canadian Mount
Police (RCMP) has issued a
Twarning to Hardeep Malik, the
son of Ripudaman Singh Malik, who
was acquitted in connection with the
Air India bombing of 1985. Hardeep
Malik, a Surrey-based businessman,
received an official letter cautioning
him about potential threats to his life.
This comes in the wake of Ripuda-
man Singh Malik’s murder in 2022,
for which two individuals have been
charged, CBC News reported.
Despite the lack of concrete ev-
idence, the CBC News report claims
that RCMP investigators are ex-
ploring the possibility of the Indian Air India Flight 182 was bombed in 1985 (ANI)
government’s alleged involvement in
Ripudaman Singh Malik’s assassina-
tion, similar to their alleged role in ignated a terrorist by India’s Nation- rest of three Indian nations in Cana- fied as Amandeep Singh (22). Ac-
the killing of Sikh separatist Hard- al Investigation Agency in 2020, was da in Nijjar killing. cording to the Integrated Homicide
eep Singh Nijjar the previous year. shot and killed as he came out of a Earlier, Ministry of External Af- Investigation Team (IHIT) in Brit-
The warning issued to Hard- Gurdwara in Surrey in June last year. fairs (MEA) official spokesperson ish Columbia, Singh was already in
eep Malik falls under the “Duty to Earlier, in the aftermath of Ri- Randhir Jaiswal said on Friday that the custody of Peel Regional Police
Warn” protocol, a measure taken by pudaman Singh Malik’s assassina- India has seen reports regarding the in Ontario for unrelated firearms
authorities in British Columbia to tion, the RCMP extended warnings fourth Indian arrested by Canada charges. “IHIT pursued the evi-
alert individuals when their safety is to several other Sikh-Canadian indi- over his involvement in the killing of dence and gained sufficient informa-
at risk. The RCMP underscored that viduals, suggesting a broader pattern India-designated terrorist Hardeep tion for the BC Prosecution Service
the threat must be considered likely of potential threats. Singh Nijjar. to charge Amandeep Singh with
to materialise. While connections between While addressing a press brief- first-degree murder and conspiracy
Hardeep Malik is not the only Singh Malik’s murder and the Nijjar ing, Jaiswal noted that Canada has to commit murder,” the police state-
one to receive such notice; others case are being investigated, conclu- not formally conveyed about the ar- ment said.
associated with the Khalistan sepa- sive evidence remains elusive, leav- rest and India has not yet received The police said that Singh is an
ratist movement in British Columbia ing the investigation ongoing. any consular access request. Indian national, splitting his time in
have also been cautioned. Earlier this week, the Ministry of On being asked about the fourth Canada in Brampton, Ontario; Sur-
CBC news report claims that External Affairs reiterated that Can- Indian arrested by Canada in the rey, British Columbia, and Abbots-
these developments lend credence ada has not provided any “specific” Nijjar killing, Jaiswal stated, “We ford, British Columbia, as reported
to the suspicion that the Indian gov- evidence or relevant information in have seen reports of the fourth per- by CBC News. Investigators haven’t
ernment’s alleged targeting of Sikh the Hardeep Singh Nijjar killing case son being arrested. We have not released any further details of the
figures in Canada did not begin with and that no “formal communication” been formally conveyed of it. So far, arrest, citing ongoing investigations
Nijjar’s death, a claim repeatedly de- has been provided to India over the we have not received any consular and court processes.
nied by India. arrests of three Indians allegedly in- access request as well. This comes days after the Ca-
External Affairs Minister S Jais- volved in the matter.” Last week, the Canadian police nadian police arrested three Indian
hankar has time and again denied “No specific or relevant evidence said that they have arrested a fourth nationals -- Karan Brar, Kamalpreet
receiving any evidence implicating or information has been given to us suspect over his alleged involvement Singh and Karanpreet Singh in Ed-
Indian nationals’ involvement in the in this matter. Canada has informed in the killing of the designated ter- monton. The trio was charged with
killing in Canada of India-designat- us about the arrest. But we have not rorist, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Cana- first-degree murder and conspiracy
ed terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. got any formal communication...” da-based CBC News reported. to commit murder in relation to the
Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was des- MEA Spokesperson said on the ar- The accused has been identi- homicide.

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